English 8 Name ________________________
The Diary of Anne Frank:
We will be reading the play version of Anne Frank’s Diary of a Young Girl, entitled The Diary of Anne Frank. It is in our textbook on pages 301-374.
We will read the play in class as Reader’s Theater.
Student responsibilities:
1.
Read aloud - Each student will be responsible for reading the part of one character in at least one scene. DO NOT memorize your lines!
However, you should read your part to yourself before reading it aloud in class so that the reading will flow smoothly. Students may check out books to practice their parts.
My part is ________________________________
Act______ Scene________ pgs. _____ to _______
2.
Character chart on reverse side (to be filled in as we read; due Friday,
Dec. 18)
3.
Dialogue Analysis (also due Friday 12/18)
4.
Theme Analysis (will be done on chrome books in class after Winter
Break)
5.
Media comparison (will be started in class and finished for homework the week after Winter Break)
6.
Socratic Seminar – Essential Question: To what extent are individuals responsible for each other? (Anne Frank texts plus “The Perils of
Indifference”, by Elie Weisel – After Winter Break, date to be announced)

As we read, write a few adjectives describing the ten major characters and why you chose the adjectives (character’s statements or actions).
Character adjectives
Anne
Why/textual evidence
Mr. Frank
Mrs. Frank
Margot Frank
Peter Van Daan
Mr, Van Daan
Mrs. Van Daan
Miep Gies
Mr. Dussel
Mr. Kraler

The Diary of Anne Frank
Dialogue Analysis (Due Friday, 12/18)
A dialogue is a conversation between two characters. Choose a short piece of dialogue from the play. Copy the dialogue. Then answer these questions, using textual evidence to support your responses.
1.
What are the characters discussing?
2.
Are the characters at odds or in agreement? How do you know?
3.
What are the motivations of each of the characters?
4.
What does the dialogue reveal about the characters’ relationship with one another?
5.
Which character do you most relate to and why?
Example of a good choice of dialogue to analyze (p. 322):
Mrs. Frank: I’m not afraid that anyone s going to walk all over you, Anne.
I’m afraid for other people, that you’ll walk on them. I don’t know what happens to you, Anne. You are wild, self-willed. If I had ever talked to my mother the way you talk to me…
Anne: Things have changed. People aren’t like that anymore. “Yes, Mother”
“No, Mother” “Anything you say, Mother.” I’ve got to fight things out for myself! Make something of myself!

The Diary of Anne Frank
Theme Analysis (will be done in class):
This semester, we learned that a theme is a truth about life that is revealed in a work of literature. We learned how to infer themes in literature by analyzing how characters change, examining the conflict and its resolution, and thinking about the author’s tone and voice as expressed through dialogue and narrative.
Write a minimum of two paragraphs explaining:
 how one of the themes listed below is demonstrated in the play
 Your evaluation of the theme using examples from real life (real people or world events, another book or movie, personal experience).
You must use the academic voice. If you are relating a personal experience, you may use first person for that anecdote only.
List of themes from The Diary of Anne Frank:
 The experience of one person can provide insight into historical events.
 “There are no walls, there are no bolts, no locks that anyone can put on your mind.” (Mr. Frank says this to Anne when he gives her the diary.)
 “In spite of everything, I still believe that people are basically good at heart.” (Last line of the play, taken from Anne’s diary)
 It is in difficult times that we find what we are truly made of.

The Diary of Anne Frank
Media Comparison
In class, we read several treatments of the Anne Frank/Holocaust story:
 The Diary of Anne Frank, play we read aloud in class
 Excerpts from Anne’s diary, Pgs. 380-382 of the textbook, plus more within the play
 “A Tragedy Revealed” (Pgs. 412-428), an article based on 42 interviews piecing together the last few months of Anne’s life
 “Tatoo”: poem by Gregg Shapiro
1. Think about the advantages and limitations of each media form.
Create a chart on a separate sheet of paper which shows at least one advantage and one limitation to each of these forms.
2. Respond to the following questions in a well-developed twoparagraph essay. Use academic language (third person), and write complete sentences with your best grammar and punctuation.
 Which of these works was the most interesting or powerful and why? Be specific and use examples.
 How much did the power or importance of the work have to do with the author’s choice of media?

End-of-Unit Reflective Discussion:
Anne Frank wrote the following passage in her diary:
“I don't want to have lived in vain like most people. I want to be useful or bring enjoyment to all people, even those I've never met.
I want to go on living even after my death!”
When Anne’s diary was first published, her father, Otto Frank received lots of letters from readers telling him how much the book meant to them.
He often wrote back to them: “I hope Anne's book will have an effect on the rest of your life so that insofar as it is possible in your own circumstances, you will work for unity and peace.”
After reading the play, The Diary of Anne Frank, reading excerpts from her diary, reading background information about her from people who knew her, and watching the film about her life and death, think about and answer this question:
How will learning about Anne’s life affect the way you live yours?